Our Class of 2024 will receive their diplomas tomorrow, taking the next step in their lives and futures! Tune in online at www.youtube.com/ISD535.
• Mayo High School Ceremony: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• MNSync Online Ceremony: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
• John Marshall High School Ceremony: 3 to 5 p.m.
• Century High School Ceremony: 7 to 9 p.m.
Yesterday afternoon, family, friends, and faculty gathered outside Phoenix Academy to honor and celebrate the Class of 2024. Congratulations, Phoenix Academy Class of 2024 Graduates!
As we near the end of the school year, read a year in review memo from Superintendent Dr. Kent Pekel. He writes about:
➡️ The Academic Agenda
➡️ Supports for Learning
➡️ Family Engagement
➡️ Improving the Organization
➡️ School Start Times and Transportation
➡️ Referendums and Reductions
➡️ What’s Ahead
Read the full memo at: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1624433
The RPS School Board voted unanimously to put forward an investment plan to Ignite Student Learning through a referendum. Voters will decide on November 5. View this Q&A to learn more about the Referendum: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1621656
Last week, our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) held their graduation ceremony. Lots of happy tears were shed as we celebrated these hardworking students. We are very proud of all the work they've put in and the strength and resiliency they display each day!
Congratulations LEAP class of 2024!🎓
Rochester Academy for Independent Living (RAIL) held its graduation ceremony on Friday morning. During the ceremony, each graduate was individually highlighted, and then they celebrated with cake and lemonade afterward.
Congratulations, RAIL class of 2024!🎓
On Memorial Day, we celebrate, honor, and remember those who gave their lives for our country. Thank you for your service!
Graduation is an accomplishment for all of our seniors, but for our Indigenous students, their celebration began at our annual American Indian Education Powwow on May 4th, 2024. At the powwow, seniors received an eagle feather to recognize their education milestone and to reflect the honor the graduate brings to their family, community, and tribal nations.
Learn more about the eagle feather ceremony: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1614534
Congratulations seniors on your last day of school! We are proud of you, and can't wait to see what you do next! #classof2024
Reminder: There is no school on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. Enjoy your three-day weekend!
All District buildings will be closed on Monday, May 27, and will reopen under normal operating hours on Tuesday, May 28!
Gage Gator Night was a success! Enjoy some of these snapshots of the Gage families connecting, finding new books to read, and watching a performance from their students!
Happy Vesak Day to those who celebrate.
Minnesota GreenCorps members serve full-time at their host site for 11 months, from mid-September through mid-August. Members implement environmental projects to build climate resilience in one of four topic areas: community readiness and outreach, energy conservation and green transportation, stormwater and forestry, waste reduction and recycling. Sample projects include activities such as coordinating multi-modal transportation events, developing climate action plans, educating community members and youth, removing invasive species, installing rain gardens, benchmarking energy, conducting waste sorts, and more.
To learn more about the program and apply, visit: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/minnesota-greencorps
Though the debate is still ongoing on whether pineapple belongs on pizza, Rochester Public Schools (RPS) students had the opportunity to explore pineapple, learn about where it comes from and how it grows, and consider its nutritional impact. Of course, they had to taste-test the pineapple, too!
Learn more about our partnership with the Mayo Clinic Dietetic program: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1613708
At last night's School Board meeting, the Board voted to place a referendum on the November 5 ballot seeking $19.4 million annually to protect and enhance educational programs and student services. The referendum would support the district’s new investment plan to “Ignite Student Learning.” Guided by feedback from residents, this plan was developed to stabilize our operating budget, strengthen our curriculum, and support the programs that will ensure our students are ready for life after graduation. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1611885
Today, we had our annual senior walk-through, where our seniors get the opportunity to walk the halls of their elementary and middle school one last time before graduation! We are so proud of your accomplishments! Thanks to all of our schools for coming together to celebrate you!
The RPS community is invited to join us for two virtual budget info sessions to review the 2024-2025 RPS budget and submit feedback. Join us on June 5 from 12-1 p.m. or 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. The Zoom links can be found at www.rochesterschools.org/events. Select each event to see the details.
Due to predicted severe weather, RPS is canceling all after-school practices and games.
Here's what this means:
- All sporting events and practices are canceled.
- All activity buses are canceled.
- All Middle School After School classes and clubs offered through Community Education are canceled. All other Community Education programs are on as scheduled unless you receive a direct message from Community Education to the contrary.
Please check with your schools about their plans for PTSA meetings, concerts, and other events. The School Board meeting will still occur at the Edison Building starting at 5:30 p.m. If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the board meeting at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535.
Pinewood Panthers, new and old, please join us for a Building Farewell Party of Pinewood Elementary building tomorrow!
Next school year, Pinewood Elementary will be moving to and sharing a building with Longfellow Elementary. We invite new, current, and old Pinewood families, students, and staff to join us as we walk the halls of Pinewood’s building and share stories with one another one last time tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22, from 6-8 p.m.! This event is open to the public. We’ll have snacks, the Flapdoodles Ice Cream truck will be on site, and Pinewood teacher Mr. Newkirk will provide music.
See you there!
May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and we want to highlight some of our speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Meet Meghan Kriesel, M.S. CCC-SLP, who works at Overland Elementary School. Meghan has worked at RPS for seven years. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1578567
